diff --git a/cadquery/occ_impl/shapes.py b/cadquery/occ_impl/shapes.py
index 25b34e0c..e20443d5 100644
--- a/cadquery/occ_impl/shapes.py
+++ b/cadquery/occ_impl/shapes.py
@@ -2391,7 +2391,7 @@ class Compound(Shape, Mixin3D):
 
         mgr = Font_FontMgr.GetInstance_s()
 
-        if fontPath and not mgr.CheckFont(TCollection_AsciiString(fontPath)).IsNull():
+        if fontPath and not mgr.CheckFont(TCollection_AsciiString(fontPath).ToCString()).IsNull():
             system_font = Font_SystemFont(TCollection_AsciiString(font))
 
             system_font.SetFontPath(font_kind, TCollection_AsciiString(fontPath))